When I was pregnant with my first child, I think I drove my obstetrician crazy. Since my psychology practice focuses on women’s health, I see pregnant women frequently. And I don’t tend to see women who have effortless calm pregnancies. I see women who experienced infertility, or had a miscarriage, who had a difficult previous pregnancy or a high risk current pregnancy. So … [Read more...] about Is my baby going to be OK? Worrying during pregnancy
Pregnancy after loss: How to handle anxiety and fear
When a woman has a miscarriage, one of two things tend to happen. If she hasn’t told anyone that she was pregnant, she often decides to tell no one about her loss. If she tells no one, she suffers in isolation, and wonders if her sadness and overwhelming loneliness are normal. If she has told family and/or friends that she was expecting, she then has to share her sad news, or … [Read more...] about Pregnancy after loss: How to handle anxiety and fear
What is the ideal age gap between siblings?
In other words, when should you have another baby? The spacing of children is a frequently debated topic and my patients ask me all the time what is best. One year? Two? Three? Four or more? My answer is always the same—there is no right answer. There is no formula for deciding when to have another baby; no one is going to tell you that one year, eight months or three years, … [Read more...] about What is the ideal age gap between siblings?
How to choose baby’s name, without arguing
What's in a name? Choosing a name for your baby can be fun, challenging, entertaining, argumentative, or all of the above. I have come to realize that people have incredibly strong feelings about names. I have conducted many therapy sessions for couples where the entire focus is “discussing” a name for their baby. I even had a couple recently who was blissfully expecting … [Read more...] about How to choose baby’s name, without arguing
Pregnancy and in-laws: how to cope if they drive you crazy
If I had to make a list of the complaints that my pregnant patients report, mother-in-law issues would most definitely be in the top ten. If you are one of the blessed lucky souls who likes her mother-in-law, feel free to go read something else. But if you have a mother-in-law who seems to know how to push your button, read on… Many women realize that their mother-in-law’s … [Read more...] about Pregnancy and in-laws: how to cope if they drive you crazy